Neonatal Resuscitation Guidelines and the Late Preterm Infant

The Neonatal Resuscitation Guidelines have been recently reviewed and released (American Academy of Pediatrics: Neonatal Resuscitation Textbook. 5th edition. Elk Grove, IN: American Academy of Pediatrics; 2006). There are many areas that have applicability to specific populations, such as the infant with meconium-stained amniotic fluid, preterm infants, and infants at the edge of viability. However, there is no specific mention of the late preterm infant. This population does not usually need specific resuscitation measures that are different from other infant populations but may, in fact, require some measure of support after delivery more often than term infants do. The specific changes in the guidelines as well as postresuscitation measures, which are as important as the resuscitation measures themselves, are reviewed in this article. Careful consideration about the best place to provide this increased level of monitoring and intervention, as necessary, is required.